Animal Welfare People

We bought a Christmas gift for our son’s family’s dog. Does that make us “animal rights” people? Probably not, because even though Lady is a sweet dog and I’m sure she will love the bacon flavored snacks, it’s more about bringing a smile to her owners’ faces. This does bring up the quandary about what separates animal rights people from animal welfare people? Animal welfare is about the humane treatment of animals - the belief that animals used to serve human needs, or animals enjoyed as pets should be kept in such a way that basic needs for food, health, and shelter are met. Animal rights activists believe that animals have the same rights as humans, should be allowed to live their lives on their terms, and should not be used for any purpose which serves humanity, including being owned as pets. So before you label yourself as an animal rights supporter you might want to check out exactly what it is your purporting to support, especially if you can’t imagine a world without guide dogs for the blind, search and rescue dogs, police horses and dogs, or that furry little critter curled up in your lap that you like to think of as your “best friend”.